Deputies said 15-year-old Daniel Gabriel Smith, was found with a gunshot under his chin. Smith was in the ninth grade at Easley High School and was a junior varsity football player.

Investigators said Daniel called 911.

While deputies were searching the home, they said they heard a gunshot from outside the home.

They said they found 61-year-old William D. Thomas with a gunshot wound to the head.

They said Thomas shot his wife and stepson and then shot himself.

According to deputies, it appears that the shootings stemmed from an ongoing domestic situation.

In the incident report, it said Daniel's girlfriend told deputies she'd gotten several texts from Daniel Thursday night before the shootings. The report said the girlfriend told deputies, "There was a possible incident between (Daniel's) mother and his stepfather, and the teenage boyfriend was possibly going to get in a fight with his stepfather."

A neighbor told News 4's Mandy Gaither Sandy was a pet groomer. "She was over here grooming our dog, and she was king of just expressing her feelings towards her husband, and it was not a good situation," Adam Broome said.

Broome said he could always hear the couple fighting at their house.

"Just kinda wondering if I could have done anything, I guess. It's just -- I'm just speechless, really," said Broome.

Players left a memorial for Daniel outside his home.

Teammate Josh Leisten said hours before the shootings Daniel played an entire game of football against Seneca.

"I guess we'll just use it as motivation. We'll play the game for Daniel, and practice as hard as we can for Daniel, and just use him as our motivation," said Leisten. "I'm just in disbelief. It just hasn't set in yet. It's just I don't know -- overwhelming."

The Pickens County School District said grief counselors were made available for students and staff at Easley High School.

"Please remember the EHS family as we deal with the tragic death of one of our student athletes. The loss is always tough, but it is extremely difficult when it involves a young person. Daniel will be missed in the classroom and on the playing field," Principal Tim Mullis said.

Friends said Thomas sold produce, and stored it at the home.

Michael Hedrick said he'd bought produce from Thomas for more than 10 years, and never noticed any warning signs of trouble.

"Who knows who's capable of what, but I never would have guessed in a million years that he was capable of doing something like that," said Hedrick. "Hopefully people will take a step back, and appreciate what they have, and hold their kids closer tonight because of it."

Pickens County Assistant Sheriff Tim Morgan said Thomas had been arrested in 2008 for criminal domestic violence against his wife.

The report said Thomas assaulted his wife by grabbing her around the neck, and throwing her to the ground. It also said Thomas, "pulled a small black gun out of his pocket, and put it behind (his wife's) left ear while holding her by the neck."

A spokeswoman for the 13th Circuit Solicitor's Office told News 4 the charges were later dropped because Thomas's wife chose not to prosecute.